The IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) has partnered with renowned wine and spirits company Pernod Ricard to launch their new BAR150 programme, aimed at celebrating 150 years of mixology. The focus of the new programme and partnership will be to revamp cocktail menus across IHG’s many hotel bars, adding new signature cocktails. To help celebrate this occasion, the AU has been given three classic cocktail recipes which will be available at IHG hotel bars like those at InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, and Holiday Inn hotels and resorts across the globe. Get your shakers ready because here are some reliable recipes for Mai Tai, Mojito, and Whisky Sour.

Mai Tai

(Pictured above) Mai tai means ‘good’ in Tahitian, the origin of this tiki classic which was invented in California by Don the Beachcomber. Sweet and strong with almond flavoured ‘orgeat’ bringing the unique taste.

How to Serve
Fill a shaker with ice cubes. Add all ingredients. Shake and strain into a chilled rocks glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with mint leaf, pineapple, a cherry and lime.

Mojito

Cuba is the undisputed birthplace of the Mojito, although the exact origin of this classic cocktail is subject to debate. One story traces the Mojito to the 16th century when the cocktail was known as “El Draque,” in honour of the English sailor Francis Drake. Fresh mint is at the heart of this. The drink of Cuba should only be enjoyed with a true Cuban rum.

Ingredients

2 Parts Havana Club 3Y Rum

3/4 Part Simple Syrup

3/4 Part Lime Juice

8 Whole Mint Leaves

Soda Water

How to Serve
Muddle mint leaves and simple syrup in a highball glass. Fill with crushed ice. Add light rum and lime juice. Stir. Top up with soda water.

Whisky Sour

A whisky variation of the Peruvian classic Pisco Sour. The subtle flavours of the bourbon are brought out by the lemon juice.

Ingredients

3 Parts Bourbon Whisky

2 Parts Lemon Juice

1 Part Simple Syrup

1/2 Part Egg White

Garnish

1 Maraschino Cherry

How to Serve
Fill a shaker with ice cubes. Add all ingredients. Shake and strain into a chilled rocks glass filled with ice cubes. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.

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Pernod Ricard has designed this new cocktail menu for IHG hotels based on its rich brand portfolio, which includes Aparitif, Whisky, Scotch Whisky, Cognac, Gin, Vodka, Rum, and many other liqueurs. The French wine and spirits group also sets a high standard for bartenders at IHG hotels in making and serving cocktails to ensure its originality.

Phil Broad, Vice President, Food & Beverage, AMEA, IHG, said: “Around 150 years ago the first cocktail recipe appeared in print, kick-starting a mixology movement that continues to go from strength to strength. There’s so much history and heritage behind the region’s most loved cocktails so we are celebrating the best of these with BAR150 – from the Mint Julep which was popularised at what is now InterContinental The Willard Washington DC, to the Mojito, which can trace its history back to the explorer, Sir Francis Drake.

“Partnering with Pernod Ricard has given us the opportunity to provide our guests with exceptional cocktail options, made with renowned spirits and liqueur brands, across more than 200 bars in our hotels in the region.”

Quentin Job, Vice President, Innovation and Commercial Development, Pernod Ricard Asia said: “Pernod Ricard is thrilled to have worked with IHG on enhancing cocktail experiences for its guests across AMEA hotels based on our famous brands, such as Havana Club for Maitai and Beefeater for Negroni; and many more for basic mixed drinks and sophisticated cocktails. This collaboration has contributed to the development of mixology, which is reviving the cocktail culture in Asia.”

“We also treasure the opportunity of exchanging professional cocktail mixing skills with IHG colleagues to deliver consistency across IHG hotels. There is a lot more creation and innovation to come for IHG guests and I look forward to taking this art form to the next level.”

The refreshed cocktail menus are accompanied by a wider revamp of the hotel’s bar snack menus. The menus are tailored by hotel brand, with InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn hotels and resorts offering up their own unique dishes, created by top chefs from across IHG hotels in AMEA. The new menus have been designed to showcase some of the best flavours from across the region and will complement the new cocktails on offer, giving guests a heightened bar experience.

IHG is one of the largest restaurant and bar operators in the Asia, Middle East and Africa region with more than 800 restaurants and bars across 37 countries, and another 200 restaurants and bars to be unveiled as IHG opens the 137 hotels in their pipeline.